Editorial: Candidates needed for BOE, commissioner

With a little more than six weeks left until the Feb. 27 filing deadline, the dearth of candidates filing for the local offices of county commissioner and Board of Education is somewhat surprising considering the number of high-profile issues each board has taken on in recent years and the effects of those decisions on the public.

Each election year since 2010, when Carroll County moved from three commissioners elected at-large to five commissioners elected by district, there has not been an uncontested Republican primary. On average, during the previous two commissioner elections, there have been roughly four candidates per district for voters to choose from.

Since at least 2000, there has not been a single uncontested school board election, and in most years, the field is at least double the number of seats available.

As of 5 p.m. Jan. 10, with less than 50 days until the deadline, just two candidates have officially filed for the three seats on the nonpartisan BOE and a total of six, all Republicans, have filed for county commissioner. Incumbent commissioners are unchallenged in Districts 1 and 2, and no one has filed in District 4.

A “lack of candidates” for school board, according to sitting County Commissioner Doug Howard, prompted him at the annual State of the County Address to announce his own candidacy for the BOE, reneging on a promise not to seek any office after his current term expired in 2018. As of this writing, he still had not officially filed, but said he planned to this week.

While we aren’t in love with a politician breaking his own promise not to run, we do find ourselves agreeing with Howard about the lack of candidates, so we appreciate his willingness to step up, and to call on others to do the same. We’d like to echo that call.

Contested elections breed better candidates and more informed and engaged voters. Uncontested elections make it easier for those with extreme viewpoints that aren’t representative of the community at-large to become powerful decision-makers, and further disengage the public, who become less likely to participate when their vote won’t matter.

However, in local elections especially, candidates don’t just appear out of thin air. It takes people who are committed to improving their community, who are willing to make the personal sacrifice that comes with being a public servant.

People tend to be quick to complain about public officials, but seem averse to seeking office themselves. Obviously, there are barriers that may get in the way — time commitment, in particular, especially for individuals who are still working full-time jobs.

Perhaps it’s a matter of compensation. County commissioners make $45,000 annually. School board members receive $6,500, with an extra $1,000 for the board president. There is an argument to be made that raising compensation may improve the candidate pool, but one could also argue that those who run for office at a local level are doing so to make a difference, not to collect a salary. Compensation may not be the only deterrent, but perhaps it’s something our delegation to Annapolis should address if candidate pools don’t improve.

However, we know there are good people out there with great ideas who can keep moving the ball forward for Carroll County. We encourage these individuals to step up and run for office, and give voters a choice in June and November.